Portland – Six Oregon healthcare organizations will invest $21.5 million in a unique partnership with Central City Concern to respond to Portland’s urgent challenges in affordable housing, homelessness and healthcare.
“This project reflects what we've known for a long time -- health begins where we live, learn, work, and play,” Governor Kate Brown said. "Stable, affordable housing and healthcare access are so often intertwined, and I’m gratified to see collaborative solutions coming from some of our state’s leading organizations. I applaud the efforts of all those involved and am grateful for the partnership in moving Oregon forward and making ours a home where each Oregonian thrives.”
The investment will support 382 new housing units across three locations, including one with an integrated health center in Southeast Portland.
“It’s exciting that healthcare providers recognize the deep connection between housing and healthcare,” said Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury. “This is exactly the kind of collaboration that our community needs during this housing crisis. None of us can solve homelessness alone. But this collaboration will change hundreds of lives at a critical time of need.”
The Eastside Health Center will serve medically fragile people and people in recovery from addictions and mental illness with a first-floor clinic and housing for 176 people. The center will also become the new home for an existing Central City Concern program, Eastside Concern, and will offer 24-hour medical staffing on one floor.
The Stark Street apartments in East Portland will provide 155 units of workforce housing.
The Interstate apartments in North Portland will provide 51 units designed for families. It is part of Portland’s North/Northeast Neighborhood Housing Strategy to help displaced residents return to their neighborhood.
“This significant contribution is an excellent example of healthcare organizations coming together for the common good of our community,” saidEd Blackburn, executive director of Central City Concern. “It also represents a transformational recognition that housing for lower income working people, including those that have experienced homelessness, is critical to the improvement of health outcomes. This housing will remain affordable for generations and it couldn’t come at a better time.”
The healthcare organizations contributing $21.5 million to the initiative are:
Adventist Health Portland
CareOregon
Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Legacy Health
OHSU
Providence Health & Services – Oregon
“Health and home go hand-in-hand,” said Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “This is a breakthrough collaboration with the healthcare community and a partnership that has the potential to change the landscape of how we can end homelessness in this country.”
For media: Download the full media kit and high-resolution renderings on the Central City Concern website.
About Housing is Health: The Housing is Health network supports innovative approaches to housing and healthcare in the Portland region. Join the conversation on social media at #HousingisHealth
